Coin-controlled clock



Dec. 8, 3925 c. MALmF ET A2..

COIN CONTROLLE CLOCK Filed Nov'. 25, 3.921

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/V. /Va Z 0 Afro/mrs Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

isaiasi CHARLES MALOUF AND NICHOLAS MALOUF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COINeCONTROLLED CLOCK.

Application filed November 25, 1921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known 'that we, CHARLES MALOUF and NICHOLAS MALOUF, both citizens of the United States, an

d residents of the city of description.

Our invention relates to improvements in coin controlled clocks, and it consists in the combina-tions, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

The invention clocks which are similar institutions for the purpose of enpertains to that class of used by saving banks or couraging saving by their customers or employees. These clocks are arranged so that they cannot be wound, unless a coin is first inserted.

The clocks are generally given away by the banks or by industrial concerns,

and in order to keep them going, it is necessary to deposit coins periodically.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanism in which the winding mechanism of the clock is normally locked, and can only be released by inserting a coin, the mechanism hereinafter disclosed being simple in construction and therefore not liable to eas-ily get out of order.

A. further obje ct of our invention is to provide a device of the type described, having a single coin accommodate coin chute or slot which will s of various sizes, any one of which will permit the releasing vmechanism to be operated so that the clock may be wound.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the type described, in

which coins of certa-in denominations, i. e., pennies, will be ineffectual in operating the releasing mechanism, thus compelling the insertion of coins of larger denomination,

as for instance, di

mes, nickels, and quarters.

A. further object of our invention is to provide a device ofthe type described, which may be readily operated by any one, and

which, when relea mal posi-tion.

sed, will return Lto its no1'- Serial No. 517,576.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this invention, in which- Figure 1 is a section along the line 1-1 of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2 2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a casing 5 which may be of any suitable shape or material. V'Vithin the casing is disposed a housing 6 for the clock-works. The latter may be of any suitable construction, and includes a winding shaft 7 preferably of rectangular cross section, and a spindle 8 for setting the hands. The shaft 7 and the spindle 8 project through the rear of the casing 5, the former'having a thumb piece 9 by means of which the shaft 7 may be turned, and the shaft 8 being provided with a milled wheel 10.

Pivotally mounted on a pin or other suitable support 11 is a latch member 12,one end of which is provided with a Ushaped recess 13 arranged to engage the square shaft 7 to normally prevent the 'turning of the latter. The latch memberl is provided with a spring 14 which tends to` hold the latch in the position shown in Figure 1, whereby the shaft 7 will be prevented from turning.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 15 is a stop vmember 16 which is normally held by a spring 17 against an abutment 18 secured to the casing. with Vcurved portions 19 and 2() adapted to receive the edges of coins. In Figure 1 a smaller coin, such as a dime, is shown about to engage the curved portion 19, while in dotted lines a larger coin, such as a quarter, is shown in position to engage the other curved surface 20.

A single coin chute 21 is provided, which is adapted to receive coins of various denominations, such as dimes, nickels, and

This pivoted stop is provided quarters. The coin chute extends toward the pivoted stop member 16 and is provided with an opening 22 above and to the right of the stop member, as shown in Figure 1. in arm 23 is secured to a shaft 2l, and is normally held by a` spring 25 in the position shown in Figure 1; that is to say, out of the coin chute. A second arm 26 is provided with teeth at its outer end. These teeth 27 are adapted to engage teeth 28 on an arm 29, which is secured to, but is offset from, the latch member 12. The arms 26 and 29, it will be observed, are outside of the coin chute 21, while the arm 23 is in alinement with the coin chute and is adapted to enter vwhen manipulated in the maner hereinafter described. Secured to the shaft 2a is a milled wheel 3() (see Figures 2 and 3).

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. In order to keep the clock going, it must, of course, be wound periodically. The shaft 7, as stated, is normally prevented from turning by the latch member In order to release it, a coin 31, such as a dime, is deposited in the chute 21, and falls down into the fullfline position, shown in Figure 1,` where it rests onr the curved portion 19 of the pivotedstop member 16. The wheel 30 is now turned so as to move the armh3 downwardly tovard the coin. The movement of the arm 23 is followed by the arm 26. Vlllien the arm 23 engages the coin, it will push the coin downwardly, and will turn the stop member 16' against theY tension of the spring 17, until the coin is brought into engagement with the curved end 32 of the latch member 12. Further movement will cause the latch member 12 to lift. At the same time,' tlie arm'29 will be swung downwardly, so as to bring the teeth 2,3 into mesh with the teeth 2?"011 the arm 26. As soon as the teeth 27 and 28 engage, thecoin will have reached the position to be dropped into the bottom of thev casino', but the engagement of the teeth i will cause the vfairtherv movement of the latch member to the dot-ted line position, thus releasing the shaft 7. The clock may now be wound by the4 turning of the thumb piece 9, the knob or wheel 3() being held so that the arm23I and other releasing' parts will beheld in depressedl position and upon the release of the wheel or knob 30y the springs 275,117, and let will return all of the parts to their normalv position, again locking the. winding shaft and necessitating the deposit ofanother coin before the clockcan be rewound.y

Should a larger coin, such as a nickel or a quarter, be placed' in the chute, it will operate on the curved portion 2O of the stop member in the same manner as described, ,Since-these coins will be of-suflicient diameter to extend from thc curved portion 2O of the stop member to the Ycurved portion 32 of the latch member, to canse the movement of the latch member. lf a penny should have been deposited, it will pass on into the boltom of the casing when the wheel 30 is ma nipulated, without permitting the windingr shaft 7 to be released, for the following reason. The diameter' of the penny is such that it cannot engage the curved surface 19 of the stop member which is nearest to the curved surface 31 of the latch, but it must engage the curved surface 2O of the stop member' which is farther away. The diameter of the penny, however, bei-ng smaller than that of the nickel or quarter, will not reach to the curved surface 32 ofthe latch member when the stop member. 16 is swung downwardly by force applied to the penny through the movement of the arm 23. It is true that the arm 26 will be swung downwardly, but the teeth on the arm 26 will clear the teeth on the arm 29, because the latch, member has not been moved bev the penny, and hence, the latter will fall into the easing without having effected the release of the winding shaft. It is useless, therefore, to deposit pennies, and the user of the device is therefore compelled to save coins of larger denominations. The device is simple in construction and positive in operation. It is not easily gotten ont of order, and, as stated, can be manufactured at a relatively7 small cost.

le claim:

1. In a coifn controlled clock, a casino', a winding shaft, a spring tcnsioned latch for normally preventingthe turning of the winding shaft, a coin chute, a movable stop member disposedv in alinement with said coin chute for receiving a coin, a pivoted arm arranged to forcibly engage the coin and to cause the movement of the, stop member, whereby the coin is brought into engagement with the latch, and cooperating means conne'cted with said arm and said latch for causing a further movement of the latch as saidarm is moved.

2. The combination with a clock having a winding shaft, ofv a spring tensioned latch arranged to` normally prevent the rotation of the winding shaft, a coin chute, a pivoted stop member disposed in alinement with the coin chute, said` stopl member having a curved surface normally spaced from the end of said latch member andv adapted to receive a coin. of relatively small diameter, and having another curved surface disposed farther away from the. end of the latch member and adapte-d to receive a coin of larger diameter.

3. The combination with a clock having a winding shaft, of a spring tensioned latch arranged to normally prevent the rotation of the winding shaft, a, coin chute, a pivoteflr tit) stop member disposed in alnement with the coin chute, said stop member having a curved Surface normally spaced from the end of Said latch member and adapted to receive e coin oli' relatively small diameter, and having another curved surface disposed farther away 'l'rom the end of the latch member and adaptmen'lber to turn the latter, whereby the coin 10 s brought into engagement with the latch member.

CHARLES MALOUF. NICHOLAS MALOUF. 

